Verbena plant named ‘KLEVP20081’

ABSTRACT

A new  Verbena  plant particularly distinguished by purple flowers with a white eye and an upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Verbena x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEVP20081’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena x hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEVP20081’. ‘KLEVP20081’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in November 2016 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia between the proprietary female Verbena variety ‘16.6076’ (unpatented), and the proprietary male Verbena variety ‘16.6067’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP20081’ was selected from the group of plants in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October 2017.

In October 2017, ‘KLEVP20081’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. ‘KLEVP20081’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.

-   -   1. Purple flower with a white eye; and     -   2. An upright growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers.

The photograph is of a plant approximately ten weeks old grown indoors in Stuttgart, Germany in April 2021. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEVP20081’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on three-month-old plants grown in a greenhouse in Latina, Italy in 2019. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Verbenaceae.         -   Botanical.—Verbena x hybrida.         -   Common.—Verbena.         -   Designation.—‘KLEVP20081’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘16.6076’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘16.6067’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Upright with a compact round             shape and excellent branches.         -   Height (from top of soil).—25.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—23.0 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 8             weeks.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 weeks.         -   Root description.—White, RHS 155B, fine and fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Number of branches per plant.—More than 22.         -   Length.—21.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.25 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.4 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 139D.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Texture and appearance.—Pubescent, round. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Immature and mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 141A.             Lower surface: RHS 141C.         -   Length.—3.9 cm.         -   Width.—2.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Rugose.         -   Venation type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 141D.         -   Petioles.—Length: 2.2 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 141D.             Texture: Leathery. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Tall, cylindrical.         -   Length.—1.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS N74C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 1 week.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.         -   Length of inflorescence.—3.5.         -   Diameter of inflorescence.—5.3.         -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—23.         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141A. Length: 2.9 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. -   Florets:     -   -   Length.—1.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Form.—Single.         -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS N80A with white eye RHS             N999D. Lower surface: RHS N80C with white eye RHS N999D.             Mature: Upper surface: RHS N81B with white eye RHS N999D.             Lower surface: RHS N8OD with white eye RHS N999D.         -   Corolla tube length.—1.6 cm.         -   Corolla tube color.—RHS 157B.         -   Petals.—Length of lobe: 1.3 cm. Diameter of lobe: 1.1 cm.             Lobe shape: Obtuse. Apex: Emarginate. Margin: Entire.             Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glossy, satiny.         -   Pedicels.—Not visible. -   Sepals:     -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate but fused.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 141C.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Hairy, dull. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Present. Quantity: 4. Appearance: Didynamous.             Color: RHS 139D. Filament length: 0.3 cm. Filament diameter:             0.1 cm.         -   Anther.—Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 141D. Length: 0.2 cm.             Diameter: 0.1 cm.         -   Pollen amount.—Sparse.         -   Pollen color.—RHS 1B.         -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Length: 1.6 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm.             Stigma: Color: RHS 141D. Appearance: Ovate. Length: 0.1 cm.             Diameter: 0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS 141D. Length: 1.4 cm.             Diameter: 0.1 cm. Appearance: Long. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: Good tolerance to powdery mildew     (Podosphaera xanthii).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEVP20081’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Characteristic ‘KLEVP20081’ Female parent Male parent Flower size Bigger than 16.6076 Smaller than Bigger than KLEVP20081 KLEVP20081 Earliness Earlier than both Later than Later than parents KLEVP20081 KLEVP20081

‘KLEVP20081’ is most similar to the commercial Verbena Vepita Purple Eye (not patented). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Characteristic ‘KLEVP20081’ Vepita Purple Eye Growth habit Upright Semi-mounding Eye on flower Bigger than Vepita Smaller than KLEVP20081 center Purple Eye Earliness Earlier than Vepita Later than KLEVP20081 purple Eye 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant designated ‘KLEVP20081’ as illustrated and described herein. 